Any updates on the noise level of the fan of the M1 mini? Looking for a silent machine to drive a LG 5K display. Some say it is audible, some say it isn't. My hearing is quite sensitive and I sit in a very quite room practically without background noise. For comparison purposes: Can't hear the fan of my MacBook Pro (2015), but I can hear the fan of the 21.5 iMac (2019) and the fan of the iMac 24 inch M1 (even a tiny bit louder than my 21.5 model) – both not loud in any way though, just audible. How is the Mac mini M1 in comparison?
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Mac mini M1 really silent?
- Thread starter johnscully
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It's silent. But perception varies. I mean yesterday my head was clouded, I stopped coding for a couple of hours and decided to play a couple of hours on World of Warcraft. Through all that time, despite the game pushing the unit pretty hard, it barely got warm and to me remained silent. It is right next to me.
I often keep putting my hand at the back of the mini just to feel how hard it is pushing out air as I can never tell simply by listening.
I often keep putting my hand at the back of the mini just to feel how hard it is pushing out air as I can never tell simply by listening.
Sounds promising. What I forgot to mention: I‘m referring to the noise level in idle mode and with light tasks like web-browsing, Microsoft office apps etc. As I seldom do intensive tasks like coding or gaming a bit of noise under heavy load wouldn‘t be that bad.
I have a Dell desktop next to my Mac mini. Although the Dell is fairly quiet, when I switch it off, I get a feeling of relief of tension.
I never notice any sound whatsoever coming out of my Mac mini.
Another vote for no noise. Granted, I don't often push mine with heavy tasking, but I'm set up in a very quiet space where I notice every little noise, and I never hear anything from my M1 Mini.
Can’t hear a thing from my Mini - totally silent, and runs cool as a cucumber. If it wasn’t for the display and power light telling me otherwise, I’d question if it’s even switched on sometimes.
I've never heard the fan on my M1 Mac mini, to the point I couldn't even believe it had one. Even when playing AAA games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider it remains silent to my ear.
The only indication to me is when you put your hand to the back of the mini - you can feel a gentle breeze coming out of the vents, albeit a cool one.
The only indication to me is when you put your hand to the back of the mini - you can feel a gentle breeze coming out of the vents, albeit a cool one.
In that case, you won't even know it is on, nevermind notice the fan.
Honestly, coming from the previous Intel Mac Mini's the M1 is so different. If you were looking at purchasing any previous version of the Mini I would not hesitate to say you will hear the fan even on light usage, not the M1.
Never heard a sound from my M1 Mini.
My work-issued Windows laptop on the other hand... literally blows a gale when I switch it on.
My work-issued Windows laptop on the other hand... literally blows a gale when I switch it on.
When I moved from a PC to the M1 I was amazed by the fact it was totally silent.
Thanks! Unfortunately I don't find a suitable external display for my needs. Ordered the LG UltraFine 5K but at least the unit I received is inferior in quality to iMac displays (backlight bleed, viewing angles, reflections) so I'll send it back. Plus it gives me some PWM-like eye strain, don't know what causes this (but the inferior quality would probably already have been reason enough to return the display).
Other than the LG 5K I don't know any external display with the sharpness of the iMac (218 ppi I think), so I have to choose an iMac again I guess. After using Retina displays on Macs for years (iMac, MacBook Pro) I don't want one of the 4K options with 27 or 31.5 inch.
Other than the LG 5K I don't know any external display with the sharpness of the iMac (218 ppi I think), so I have to choose an iMac again I guess. After using Retina displays on Macs for years (iMac, MacBook Pro) I don't want one of the 4K options with 27 or 31.5 inch.
Another extremely quiet M1 Mini. No chance of hearing any sound it might make as a reasonably quiet NAS is in the same room.
I bought a new LG 4k to go with my M1 Mini, on sale for £300. Not as sharp as an iMac (though better than my previous PC desktop + HP setup), but it’s saved me £450 on the current M1 iMac cost, plus I end up with a 27” monitor, as opposed to the iMac’s 24”. No bleed or sleep/wake issues, love it.
I doubt my old eyes would notice the difference between the LG and an equivalent sized iMac, unless I placed my nose 3” from the screen.
Tried the LG 4K from the Apple Store (believe 183 ppi), but could see a clear difference to the sharpness of the iMac from a normal viewing distance.
I’ve never owned an iMac (had a 27” a few years back, but sent it back after a few days because of glitches when viewing .pdf’s), so I don’t have anything to compare it to desktop wise (though I have an iPad and 16” MBP), but looks good to me, and is a step up from my old HP 24” with a Dell desktop.
For £300, the step-up in quality for me is ridiculous.
I was holding out for the bigger iMac, but more than happy with the M1 Mini/LG combo
Wait, hang on, my Mac Mini is suppose to make 'noise'?
I've never heard a thing
I've never heard a thing
M1 mini and 5k ultrafine. Totally silent all the time. You can feel just some slight airflow.
Also keep in mind LG 5k also has a fan!
Also keep in mind LG 5k also has a fan!
It's very quiet.
I used to use the 2018 for Youtube live streaming and the fans would be at full speed.
The M1 Mac Mini's fans just rev slightly and barely audible. It's incredibly impressive.
I used to use the 2018 for Youtube live streaming and the fans would be at full speed.
The M1 Mac Mini's fans just rev slightly and barely audible. It's incredibly impressive.
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at what resolution did you use your monitor with your MM2018 that it would crank up the fans at full speed when just doing basic youtube streaming? #justcurious
it makes me wonder if this is normal behaviour of the MM2018, as the specs would suggest it to be a quite capable machine, even with only the UHD 630 integrated graphics.
I have an older Macmini 2009 which has an integrated Graphics Chip, that is quite silent when streaming youtube, o=so==really one would think at 1080p that should not be an issue<
maybe that youtube video itself was a higher resolution as lots of videos today are shot and shown in 4k at youtube.
My hearing is sensitive. I can't hear a thing. The fan is on because I can feel a draft. I came from a noisy old dell. I can't tell you much more pleasant the experience is.
Sorry, I need to edit what I said.
It's live streaming on Youtube. Not watching videos on Youtube.